Meta Quest 2 Elite Strap

Product Information

The weight of the battery helps balance the HUD and the forehead cushion makes the entire headset feel secure through the most energetic games. Given that it’s much easier to remove the straps in Quest 2, I can’t help but think we’ll see a renewed push for third-party accessories and mods on the new headset, even with Facebook’s official alternatives. You don't always want the head strap to be as tight as possible, but you need it to stay at the right tightness despite your jumping around.

Meta Quest 3 Elite Strap with Battery Meta Quest 3 Elite Strap with Battery

They don’t come with any headphones fitted or other extras, but Facebook has partnered with Logitech for an official headphone solution. The bank isn't too heavy, but it has enough bulk to help offset the Quest 2 headset and plenty of power to top up your Quest 2. You could just put it in your pocket and attach the cable, but it works much better when connected to your head strap in any number of ways.Or you could have simply strapped a counterweight to the back of the strap like the VR Power, which doubled as a battery pack.

Meta Quest 2 Elite Strap with Battery | Meta Quest Meta Quest 2 Elite Strap with Battery | Meta Quest

Having a battery on the back of your head strap is very helpful, but most of the straps on this list have a battery integrated into the band, so they can only offer a finite amount of extra charge. My Elite Strap hasn't snapped yet; if it ever does, Meta now provides a two-year warranty on any Elite Strap so long as you bought it new from an official retailer. The official Oculus accessory helps you avoid modding, is much more comfortable than the original, and increases your battery life from 1.It's extremely comfortable, even for long gaming sessions, and it uses hot-swappable batteries to keep your gaming going as long as you like. Limit of one (1) Offer Item per Qualifying Product, regardless of the number of Accounts connected to such Qualifying Product. Recharging both to full takes several hours, but I just appreciate that it supports passthrough; if you use a 3rd-party battery pack, you'll have to recharge it separately from the headset. The strap even has extra pads that offer a counter to the pull from the back as the ratchet is tightened. The padding all around makes it incredibly secure and the added weight of the battery helps to balance the front screen.

Meta Quest 3 Elite Strap

In terms of sustained use, the better weight distribution means you’ll be able to play in VR for longer without feeling the strain of the Quest 2. The extra weight converts the Quest 2 from front-heavy to balanced, with the tightening dial handling the difference in weight. Having brought my headset to a number of parties, I can say that hearing a disappointed "aww, OK" when you tell someone they can't play because the battery died is a real bummer. The Elite Strap with Battery plugs into the charging port; whenever you need to charge the Battery and headset, you simply plug into a USB-C port on the bottom-back of the strap. This cool little add-on from Kiwi adds a halo ring to the existing head strap to increase your comfort.

I definitely think others could push the comfort even further; I’d be likely to replace the Elite Strap with a new FrankenQuest solution should a 3D-printed design come about. For the first time in Facebook’s six-year history-making VR headsets, though, the company is offering its very own upgrade to the solution. Its facepad digs in, and the soft strap can make it difficult to quickly find a comfortable ‘sweet spot’, especially if you’re constantly adjusting it between friends. If you were a regular Quest 1 user, you might also be aware of the range of third-party mods, accessories and replacement straps that kit saw over its 18-month life.

Elite Strap with Battery review: An excellent upgrade Quest 2 Elite Strap with Battery review: An excellent upgrade

The Elite Strap with Battery launched alongside the Quest 2 in October 2020 before temporarily pausing sales due to reports of Elite Straps snapping when tightened too much. A new version of this headset was recently released with a new ratchet on the back and a more comfortable front shape. The headset weight shifts sideways if you tilt your head and otherwise presses down on your nose by default. It's heavy but does provide an even better counterweight to the front of the headset, which many will appreciate.I've used Anker battery banks for my phones for years now, so it makes sense that I'd favor them for my Quest, too. But the Battery gives it a natural balance, whereas the rest would make you attach an unwieldy power bank to your head or else accept seeing low power warnings after an hour or two. The headset’s visor then hangs in front of your face without pressing in, and a counter-weight at the back makes for even distribution. It makes it much easier to find the best fit within seconds, and makes the headset more comfortable to wear over longer stretches of time.